Student Code of Conduct

Any student who enrols in Dunboyne College is giving a commitment, as a responsible individual and as a member of the College community, to behave in an appropriate manner.

Dunboyne College of Further Education is committed to providing equal opportunities to all our students and staff. It is our goal to support and encourage all participants of the college in their pursuit of excellence, achieving goals and broadening perspectives regardless of race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, family status, age, disability, or membership of the traveller community.

The Student Code of Conduct offers guidelines as to the norms of behaviour expected of the students. Every student and staff member has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. All students, tutors and members of college have the right to be treated in a fair and reasonable manner.

Student Responsibility

To facilitate effective learning and as a courtesy to fellow students and tutors, students are asked to:

Treat others with respect and consideration; do not use discriminatory language, comments or actions towards others.

Arrive to class on time.

Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be switched off during class time.

Take an active and positive role in the learning process.

Treat all property of the college with respect. Stealing or damaging college property may result in expulsion.

Smoking is not permitted in front of the college; there are designated areas to the rear of the building.

Never engage in physical fighting with others.

Students should not conduct any activity within the college for their own financial gain, unless prior authorisation has been sought in writing from the Principal.

Cyber Bullying which is the misuse of technology to intimidate or threaten another student. This can include sending or posting inappropriate or derogatory email messages, text messages, digital pictures or images or website postings/social networking sites.

Racist comments

Victimisation; including very personal remarks.

Exclusion and isolation.

Threats, including demands for money.

An attack by rumour, gossip, innuendo or ridicule on any individual's reputation.

An attack by rumour, gossip, innuendo or ridicule on any family’s reputation.

Health, Safety and Welfare of the college community

In the interest of the welfare of students and staff in this college, students must:

Always comply with the health and safety guidelines of the college.

Never smoke on front of college building.

Never steal from, interfere with or damage the property of the college, of students or of any member of staff.

Never use physical violence towards any person in the college.

Never bring, use or sell alcohol, drugs, tobacco or solvents while in college or on college trips.

Never come to college having taken alcohol or drugs, or used solvents.

Never bring dangerous weapons of any description to the college.

Students must strictly observe fire drill instructions as set out throughout the college and in the Fire Policy.

Students who breach the Code of Conduct or any college regulation will be interview by the Deputy Principal. This may lead to disciplinary action which may include expulsion from the College.

Temporary Exclusion*

This is an extremely serious sanction. It is making a statement to the student that his/her behaviour and refusal to respond to the requests and encouragement of the Tutor has placed the student outside the community of the college. It is a de facto statement by that student that he/she does not wish to be associated with the character of Responsibilities and Rights of all who study and teach in Dunboyne College of Further Education. Temporary exclusion can last for up to 5 days at any one time and up to 20 days in any academic year.

Temporary exclusion can be used as a sanction in the following circumstances:

Where the Deputy Principal has exhausted the process outlined above in relation to a student's behaviour and application in class.

Repeated bullying or threatening another student.

Verbal abuse of a tutor or any member of school staff.

Physical or verbal assault of any person in the school.

Persistent smoking on front of the college building.

Stealing from or interfering with the property of the college, its staff or its students.

Where the Principal considers a student should be excluded from college, the matter will be referred to the Board of Management for decision. In the case of exclusion, parents have the right of appeal to a joint committee established for the purpose by LMETB and the Bishop of Meath.

A student can be recommended for expulsion in the following circumstances:

Where there is an on-going refusal by a student to abide by the regulations of the school, and where the Principal, in consultation with the Board of Management, has, in his considered judgment, exhausted all reasonable options.

Bringing alcohol, drugs, illegal substances or dangerous weapons into the school, and selling or distributing same at any time.

Serious physical or verbal assault of any person in the college community.

Wilful and serious damage to college property.

Breaking the law of the land while in college.

Reckless endangerment of the health and safety of others.

* more often called Suspension. ** more often call Expulsion.

Roles and Responsibilities

Board of Management

To ensure that the policy is developed and evaluated over time.

To approve the policy at a meeting of the Board.

To consider reports from the principal and relevant Staff members on the implementation of the policy.

To decide on appropriate sanctions for students

Principal and Deputy Principal roles

To establish structures and procedures for the implementation of the policy.

To monitor the implementation of the policy.

To ensure that the policy is reviewed after and appropriate length of time

Relevant Post Holders

To establish structures and procedures for the implementation of the policy.

To monitor the implementation of the policy.

Tutors

Tutors are required to implement the policy.

Students

Students are expected to comply with the policy Monitoring Procedures and Sanctions Review Procedure.

The procedures are reviewed by the Whole College Development Committee.